MLPD officers honored for lifesaving efforts

Richard Byrd | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 10 months AGO

Moses Lake Police Department/courtesy photo Moses Lake Police Department officers Kevin Hake and Nick Stewart receive the Hometown Hero Award from the American Red Cross.

WENATCHEE — Two Moses Lake Police Department officers were honored with the Hometown Hero Award by the American Red Cross for their heroic and lifesaving efforts on Aug. 21.

Officers Nick Stewart and Kevin Hake received the award at a ceremony in Wenatchee Thursday.

“The Hometown Heroes Celebration recognizes first responders and members of the community that go above and beyond the call of duty in a lifesaving effort,” stated the MLPD in a release.

About 1 a.m. Aug. 21 Hake, Stewart, officer Jack Dodson and former reserve officer Justin Materne responded to a report of a vehicle submerged in a canal near the intersection of Road 5 Northeast and Road L Northeast, outside of Moses Lake.

Clayton Clark, 18, and Jesus Cornejo, 19, were in the vehicle, which was upside down and submerged in the canal when officers arrived. Being the peak of irrigation season, the water in the canal was moving fast and the officers entered the canal “without hesitation” in an attempt to rescue Clark and Cornejo. Stewart and Hake were able to force one of the doors on the vehicle open and dove into the water several times. The officers were initially unsuccessful in rescuing the two occupants.

Hake was able to dive under and break out the back window of the vehicle. Because of Hake’s effort, who injured himself in the process of breaking the window, Cornejo emerged from the vehicle and started floating down stream and was rescued from the water by Stewart.

“After Officer Stewart passed Cornejo off to the firefighters standing by next to the canal, he returned to the vehicle. Officer Stewart again repeatedly swam inside the submerged vehicle until he located the other occupant, Clayton Clark. Stewart removed Clark and again passed him on to waiting firefighters,” the MLPD said.

Cornejo is alive today because of the officers. Clark died a few days after the accident. Stewart and Hake were awarded the MLPD’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor, for their heroism. The MLPD also awarded Dodson the department’s Meritorious Conduct Award.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.